I bumped into this post doing rounds on social media. I got intrigued by some of the harsh realities in it. I felt another man, another soul, could use some of the nuggets. I have adapted it for brevity and clarity. All credit to the original author (unknown to me).

Let’s talk about matters of health and life expectancy in men.

Your health is your wealth

Most men are car enthusiasts. The care and attention they pay to their cars is fantastic. They even know which car wash leaves their ride in a spic and span state. They’ll know when their car is making a strange noise and pop it in promptly for an examination.

The human body is the best design that ever was. Even the sleekest German design does not come anywhere near the synchronized symphony that is the wonder of the human body. I am still awed by this body the longer I work with and on it.

Men’s bodies are simple yet tricky. They work without much drama, and without any outward signs of wear and tear until the damage accumulates and then all hell breaks loose.

• Men do not have other indicators of health like menstruation (or lack of it), which for women, serves as an early warning system that something is wrong, and they’ll see a doctor about it.
• Men do not get pregnant, a process that allows women to get proper medical attention.
• Men do not take regular medications like contraceptives, which are also an opportunity for women to have contact with a healthcare provider.
• Even women’s magazines focus on the nitty-gritty of health in women but when you open men’s magazines, they’ll talk about how to choose a good pair of boxers and how to build big muscles like “The Wolverine”.

Men are at a glaring health disadvantage.

If you are a man over the age of 35, start thinking about a health check each time you take your car in for servicing. It will cost you, but it is worth it.

Men are being gaslighted by national figures who hide their health issues and even prefer to go abroad for more complex ones. We have also normalized sudden death in men and yet nobody dies suddenly. The body sends out early warnings before the major catastrophe.

Here is a quick checklist:

• If you cannot take 2 flights of stairs without running out of breath or do a brisk walk on the level while speaking in full sentences, speak to a health provider.
• If you are snoring at night, speak to a health provider.
• If you do not know your blood pressure, your cholesterol, and your blood sugar (also known as HbA1c) speak to a doctor.
• If you smoke, stop. Now. This is not a suggestion but an instruction. Watch your alcohol and drinking patterns.
• If you cannot remember the last time you took time out to just rest. Not taking annual leave to go and supervise some other project or chase side hustles, I mean just rest. Book 2 weeks off and rest. And switch off the news too during this time. The world will still be on fire when you plug back in.
• If you have no plan on when you are going to retire, make that plan now. And make it earlier than the government-mandated one if you can. Remember, you will need cash flow, in retirement.
• Build a wealth creation culture early in life to avoid the pressure of overworking to compensate for lost time.
• Have meat-free days in a week; at least 3. Reduce your carbs while at it. You can have your meat and vegetables and be good to go. Maintain a healthy weight.
• Simplify your life. You do not need that extra car, you do not need that extra wife, and you do not need to start that 5th side hustle. You do not need to run for MP. Less is more.
• Learn a new skill. Learn how to play chess, and the rules of cricket, install Duo Lingo and learn a new language, download Audible and listen to audiobooks. This keeps your brain cells active and prevents premature dementia.
• Erectile dysfunction, unless proven otherwise, is an early warning system of cardiovascular disease. The tiny blood vessels in the penile tissue are getting clogged up by cholesterol plaques and soon the big vessels in the heart will follow suit, leading to heart attacks. Do not pop Viagra but see a doctor.
• Get mental health support. Even men cry. It is okay not to be okay. Speak to a trained mental health professional even if you think there’s nothing wrong with you. You’ll be shocked by what a professional can uncover.
• Define your identity away from your job, your money, and your status. This will protect you from crashing if the status symbols were ever lost.
• Forge true friendships and connections. Men on average have fewer friends than women and it negatively impacts them, especially after retirement. Loneliness is a significant contributor to early death.
• Become close to and befriend your family. Do not overwork to provide material things and ignore the fact that the family also wants your gift of you. Set the rhythm and the tempo of your family. Ignore gender roles and change the nappies, sing the babies to bed, rush to the crying fallen child, and comfort them.
• Ask to be loved and to be supported. Men find it hard to say ‘I feel unloved and unsupported by you’ to their significant other. Please ask for the love language you understand best. Your partner might think that they are cooking for you and that should be enough. Articulate what else you need, and you might find that your partner was equally desperate to know how to love you right.
• See a doctor every year even if you think there’s nothing wrong with you. See a dentist and an optician every 2 years. Make it a routine to undertake a comprehensive medical examination. You could catch that lifestyle disease early in life.

To crown it all – take time for yourself. Treat yourself well every so often. I have this belief in what the aviators say that you must fit your own oxygen mask before attempting to help others in the unlikely occurrence of an emergency.